Joint for the connection of shafts



Aug. 23, 1938. v H, HANFT JOINT FOR THE CONNECTION OF SHAFTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1957 Aug. 23, 1938. H HANFT 2,128,088

` JOINT FOR THE CONNECTION OF SHAFTS Filed Mrch 16, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 2 13 y y M V3 ,INVENTORI HANS HANFT BYmZe/Q@ ATTORNEYS Aug. 23, 1938. H HANFT JOINfll FOR THE CONNECTION OF sHAFTs 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 16, 1957 Aug. 23, 1938. H. HANFT 2,128,088

JOINT FOR THE CONNECTION 'OF SHAFTS Filed Maron 1e. 1957 v 5 sheets-sheet 4 F1197 II' I mill INVENTORI HANS HANFT ATTO R N EY Aug. 23,'1'938. H, HANF'T- 2,128,088

JOINT FR 'I'HEv CONNECTION OF SHAFTS Filed MarOh 16, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR- HANS HANF'T ATTORNEYS Patented ug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT orf-ICE Application March 16, 1937, Serial No. 131,172 In Germany August 19, 1936 Claims.

'I'he invention relates to a joint for the connection of shafts or shaft parts, for example in auto-` ing connected with the intermediate ring, and

thelatter connected with the socket, by means of driving members guided in channels or grooves formed in insets which are rotatably mounted both in the head, the intermediate ring and the socket. In such a -joint it may occur that when the two coupled shafts have been relatively swivelled in a certain direction and are then returned in the opposite' direction, the intermediate ring,

which may take part in such swivelling move.

ment, especially in the case of extensive displacement, remains in a position in which it may produce disadvantageous clamping effects.

The object of this invention is to provide means in a joint of the aforesaid kind, whereby such clamping eifect of the intermediate ring is prevented.

According to the invention I provide a guide member for the intermediate ring which is at both ends in movable engagementvwith the ends of the two shafts and which is held between its ends for universal rotary movement in the intermediate ring, the centre point for the universal rotary movement f the guide member being situated in equal distance from the centre pointof the joint system attany angular position of the two shafts. Thereby the guide member positively rocks the intermediate ring in such manner that the two shafts may with safety be angularlydisplaced or swivelled through wide angles without any clamping effect. Swivelling movements through angles of as great as 40-45 may be ensured by this arrangement.

l In a preferred embodiment of the invention the guide member positively rocking or moving the intermediate ring during the swivelling movement of the shafts comprises a rod having spherical ends, which ends are adapted to rotate and slide in axial borings or recesses in the ends of the two shafts, while between the ends of the rod a spherical collar is arranged, which is held in rotatable, j but not slidable engagement in a bowl-shaped or spherical bearing provided inthe intermediate ring. i

A joint is already known in which the joint head (Cl. G11- 21) and the joint socket are coupled, without the assistance of an intermediate ring, by driving members (balls) guided in meridian grooves in the-head and socket. In such joint, a cage is provided between the joint head and the joint socket 5 which is intended always to hold the driving members in a mean angular position with respect to the angular position of the shafts. The cage is, in this case, positively controlled by a lever, the two ends of which are spherical, one being arranged in a boring in one of the shafts against a resilient supporting bearing, while the other spherical end engages in a correspondingly shaped seat in the other shaft and is forced into the seat by the said resilient supporting bearing. A spherical part provided between the two ends of the lever is displaceablyguided in a cylindrical, axial aperture in the cage. Such joint has in practice the drawback that the lever controlling the cage may become clamped even when the shafts are displaced or swivelled through relatively small angles, so that further moving of the shafts is prevented.

In the case of the joint according to the present invention, the guide rod which positively adjusts the position of the intermediate ring is so mounted that upon moving the shafts out of axial alignment, the centre point of the spherical collar on the guide rod always remains at the same distance from the centre of the joint system, while the two spherical ends of the rod are able to move axially of their respective borings, the spherical end of the rod in the joint head being removed from the centre point of the system, and the spherical end of the rod in the other shaft approaching the centre point of the system. In this way, While all clamping effects are avoided, the shafts may be swivelled in any planes through angles of from 4045 on either side of the aligned position.

Some constructional forms of joint according to the invention are illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section on the line I-I of Figure 3 through a joint having driving members in the form of slide-blocks, the two shafts being showny in axially aligned position.

Figure 2 is a similar longitudinal section, in 50 which, however, the two shafts are shownnangularly displaced with respect to one another.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the lines III-III and IIT-III', respectively, of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal View through a joint 55 similar to that of Figure 2, but in which balls are used as driving members.

Figure represents in section on the line V-V of Figure 6, a modified constructional form of joint according to the invention, the shafts being in a position similar to that of Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows a cross section on the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a dissected perspective view of the joint head and certain associated parts.

Figure 7a is a plan view and Figure 7b an end elevation of a special form of inset movably mounted in the joint head.

Figure 8 is a dissected perspective View of the intermediate ring and certain associated parts.

Figure 9 is a dissected perspective view of parts associated with the joint socket.

In the constructional form according to the Figures 1 4, one shaft l is formed with a spherical joint head 2 and the other shaft 3 with a spherical socket 4. In the head 2 (see Figure 3) are uniformly distributed ve insets 5, which are adapted to rotate in their bearings and have a spherical outer surface corresponding to that of the joint head 2. Each rotatable inset 5 has on its outer side a channel or groove 6 with straight lateral walls and a cylindrical convex base,-in which a slide-block 'I is guided having cylindrically curved base and top faces and dat side faces.

With the joint head 2 co-operates an intermediate ring B, which has a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface and completely surrounds the joint head, the curvature of the inner surface corresponding to that of the surface of the joint head. The inner face of the intermediate ring 8 co-operating with the surface of the head 2 is provided, opposite the insets 5, and in corresponding recesses to those in the head, with similar rotatable inner insets Q formed with guide rooves it having straight lateral walls and a cylindrical concave base, so that the driving slideblocks l are guided partly within the insets 5 of the joint head 2 and' partly within the corr'esponding insets 9 of the intermediate ring 8.

The intermediate ring 8 is further provided on its outer side with rotatable insets il, which are radially staggered with relation to the inner insets i? (see Figure 3). Rotatable insets l2 arranged in the inner face of the joint socket 4 opposite the insets il co-operate through slideblocks i3 with these outer insets.

if the joint head 2 or the joint socket 4 be "moved in any direction, some of the slide-blocks 'i and i3 slide in their grooves towards one end and some towards the opposite end of the respective groove. Others are displaced to a smaller extent, while the corresponding insets rotate. The remainder of the slide-blocks are not displaced at all, and the insets with which these slide-blocks engage rotate about their own axis, so that the slide-blocks merely take part in this rotational movement.

The intermediate ring 8 is provided at one side with a cap-shaped extension or cover I4, which is provided with a spherical bearing I5 in which a spherical c'ollar I1 on a guide rod I6 is mounted, so that the rod I6 is held for universal rotary movement about the centre point of the collar I1,

aiaaoea When the two shafts are angularly displaced with respect to one another, that is to say', when the shaft l is e. g. moved from the aligned position illustrated in Figure 1 into the angular position illustrated in Figure 2, the intermediate ring 8 is positively rocked by the guide rod I6 without any clamping effect through an angle which is less than that of the displacement angle of the shafts. As will be seen, the rod i5 is so mounted that the centre point of its spherical colla-r Il always remains at the same distance from the centre point M of the joint system at any angular displacement of the shafts, while the spherical ends I8 and 20 of the rod may rotate and slide in their borings I9 and 2| through the entire angular movement of the shafts.

The distances of the centre points cf the balls I'I, I8 and 2-1l from each other and from the centre point M of the entire joint system with the shafts in aligned position, maybe so selected that in operation of the joint the intermediate ring is rocked through about one half of the angle between the shafts, and the centre point of the ball I1 travels over an imaginary spherical surface which passes approximately centrally between the outer and inner surfaces of the intermediate ring.

Instead of slide blocks, rotation bodies, such as rollers, and also balls may be used as the driving members, which, if desired, may beretained in special cages.

Figure 4 illustrates a construotional form of joint provided with sets of driving balls instead of slide-blocks. Between the joint head 2 and the intermediate ring 8, the force -is transmitted by the balls l and between the ring 8 and the joint socket 4 by the balls i3. The balls 'l' and I3 arranged in two layers one above the other are, similar to the slide-blocks 'I and I3 in the constructional form according to Figures 1 to 3, guided in the rotatable insets in correspondingly shaped grooves, the number of balls in each rotatable inset being dependent on the size of the joint, and in the example illustrated three balls are arranged in each pair of insets.

Figures 5-9 illustrate a modified construction of joint and show additional features and the construction of the individual parts.

The substantially spherical joint head 2 on the shaft I' has ve elongated recesses 22 extending axially of the shaft, and in each recess is mounted a rotatable inset 5 of special form.

'As will be seen, in particular from Figures 7,

'7a and 7b these insets havea spherical upper surface 23 corresponding to the spherical surface of the joint head, and a dat lower surface 24 from which extends a pivot pin 25 able to be received within an aperture 26 in the joint head 2', extending radially from the centre of the recess 22 in the direction of the centre of the joint head. Each inset 5 is formed in its upper surface with a longitudinal channel or groove 6 having a. cylindrically curved, convex base and even lateral walls, in which channel a slideblock l of square cross-section and cylindrically curved base and top faces is slidable.

The insets 5' are, seen from above (Figure 7a), of approximately rhombic shape and of different longitudinal and transverse dimensions, while the mid-portions 21 of the lateral surfaces 28 are sections of a circular cylinder, the diameter of which being somewhat greater than the width of the ret-ess 22 in the joint head. The side walls of the recesses 22 in the joint head are formed with correspondingly cylindrically the intermediate ring I'.

avisaoss curved cavities 29 within which the curved midportions 21 of the insets 5' engage, so that the insets, pivotal about their pins 25, may also be laterally guided at these points.

A centralboring i9 provided in the joint head 2', and serving mainly to receive one spherical end Il' of the guide rod I6', forms at the same time a channel for feeding the lubricant to the inner parts of the joint, as will be seen from Figures 5 and 6.

About the joint head 2' is arranged the intermediate ring 8', which, in order that it may be fitted over the joint head, consists of two parts Ba and B' (see Figure 8) secured together by means of bolts 30, the division plane running preferably transversely to the axis of the intermediate ring. The bolts 30 serve at the same time to secure to the intermediate ring a cupshaped extension or cover i4' which is provided with a spherical bearing i5 for the spherical collar il' of the guide rod It' (see Figure 5). In order that the collar il maybe inserted with in said bearing i5', the latter is i'ormed partly in the cover It' and partly in a plate 3| which is secured by the aid of rivets 32 or other means to the cover. ln this arrangement, the spherical ends i8 and 20? of the guide rod l5', which are guided in the cylindrical borings le' and 2i of the joint head 2' and of the shaft 3', are of smaller diameter than the spherical collar I l', in order that they may be passed through the apertures in the cover i4' and the plate 3l.

The intermediate ring 8' is provided with in ner rotatable insets 9', which co-operate with the insets t3' in the joint head 2', and outer rotatable insets Ii'. The inner and outer insets 9' and i i' as seenv from above, are of circular'form. The inner insets 9' (see Figure 8) have a dat upper surface 33 and aconcave spherical lower surface 34, in which a guide groove i', having a cylindrically curved, concave base and straight lateral walls for receiving the upper half part of the driving slide-block l, is rprovided. The outer insets il' have a ilat lower surface 35 and a convex spherical upper surface 36, in which a guide groove 31, having a cylindrically curved, convex base and straight lateral walls, is provided.

In the case of the constructional example of the joint illustrated in Figures to 9, the outer insets Il of the intermediate ring are not stag gered in relation to the inner insets 5', as is the case in Figure 3, but they are arranged radially outwardly of the inner insets (see Figure 6), so that the assembly is facilitated without the desired manner of operation of the joint being in any way impaired. The intermediate ring may be, therefore, formed with continuous, cylindrical stepped apertures. 38 (see Figure 8) having an internal diameter corresponding to that of the inner insets 9 and a greater external diameter corresponding to that of the outer insets Il'. In assembling the intermediate ring parts' 8'a and Bb over the Joint head associated with its insets 5', the slide-blocks 1" are rst inserted through the apertures 38, which slide-blocks effect the transmission between the joint head 2 and These slide-blocks l", by reason of the special construction of the rotatable insets 5' in the joint head, may be made longer than in the case of the constructional form shownin Figures 1-3 (in which all insets are circular in plan), the surface area of the slide blocks which comes into question for transmission between the joint head and the intermediate ring being thus advantageously increased. Then the inner insets 9' and finally the outer insets H are fitted in the apertures 38 of the two parts of the intermediate ring united by means of the bolts 30.

Around the intermediate ring is arranged the joint socket consisting of the annular parts 4a and 4"b which are secured together by bolts 39 responds to the convex spherical outer surface of the intermediate ring 8'. the part 4b of the `oint socket being connected to the second shaft t in one piece through the cap-shaped part 40 (see vFigure 9).

In the joint socket 4 are situated the rotatable insets I', which are of similar form to the inner insets 9' of the' intermediate 'ring and co-operate by means of correspondingly shaped slide-blocks i3" withthe outer insets Ii of the intermediate ring. I'The insets l2 in the joint socket 4' are tted in cylindrical apertures 4I in the joint socket, and the remaining space above them is closed by metal bodies 42, the outer surface of each body e2 corresponding to the cylindrical outer surface of the joint socket parts t'a and 4b. The partsd and lb of the joint socket are surrounded exteriorly by a ring 43. To facilitate the centering during assembly, the two' parts a and 4'?) of the joint socket and the two parts ta and db of the intermediate ring are stepped at their abutting edges, that they overlap.

As in the joint according to the invention the driving shaft always rotates entirely in unison with the driven shaft. the packing of the open side of the joint may take place in an extremely simple and secure manner. A packing cap 44 (sec Figure 5), which may consist in the usual manner of a rubber or leather material, may be rigidly secured by its edges both to one shaft and to the other, for example by means of clips 45, 46 or the like. It is also possible to use, instead of the ilexible packing cap 4E shown in Figure 5,- two rigid spherical metal caps, one yof which-has a central aperture withga flange, by means of which it is securely connected by a clip or the like to one shaft, while the other cap has a central aperture with a flange, by means of which it is securely connected by a clip or the like to the other shaft or the socket connectedy thereto. Upon swivelling the shafts, the two .caps engaging with each other would then be moved relative to one another. Alternatively the open end of the first-mentioned cap could slip directly on the joint socket, which in this case wn :11d have a spherical outer surface, as is assumed in Figures4 1-4.

The rotatability of the insets I2 in the joint socket 4 may be limited, for example by providing in these insets I 2 a cylindrical aperture 41 and, in the joint socket, i. e. in the bodies 42 an aperture 48'of smaller diameter, aligned with the first-mentioned aperture 41, and arranging in the apertures a ball 49, the diameter of which corresponding to that of the smaller aperture 48. 'Ihe balls 49 thus lie partially in the insets i2' and partially in the bodies 42, so that, as said -bodies constituting part of the joint socket are immovable with respect to the joint socket 4'. the insets l2 can only rotate about their axis as far as is permitted by the balls 49, at a predetermined angle of rotation of'the insets i2', the balls striking against the lateral walls of the larger apertures 41 in the insets l2', and thereby 75 preventing any further rotation of said insets. In this way it is possible, for example, to prevent turning of the insets into an undesired position when the joint is not in operation. Similarly, rotatability of the inner and outer insets 9 and H' in the intermediate ring, may also be limited, for example, by balls U located in aligned apertures of equal size in adjacent inner and outer insets 9' and Il', the diameter of the ball 50 being smaller than'that of the co-acting apertures receiving it.

The feed of lubricant into the interior of the joint may take place through the joint socket or the packing cap or, in the case of hollow shafts, through the shafts themselves. An ad- -vantage resides in that satisfactory packing of the joint, preventing the escape of lubricant and the entrance of dust or the like, is attained by reason of the fact that the packing cap may be securely connected to the two shafts, because the shafts rotate in a completely uniform man- It is to be noted that the slide-blocks 1 between the joint head and the intermediate ring, and the slide-blocks i3" between the intermediate ring and the joint socket', should have a certain length. For example, the' inner slideblocks 1" should be so long in their central longitudinal section that their ends in any position of the 'shafts always extend beyond a plane passing through the centre point of the joint system and the centres of the insets 5' in'the joint head. In the same way, the outer slidelocks I3" in their central longitudinal section should be of such length that their-ends extend beyond a plane passing through the vcentre point of the system and the centres of the insets il in the intermediate ring. The same applies to the case that sets of balls are used instead of slide-blocks, in whichv case the centre point of the outermost ball in one inset would have to lie beyond the corresponding plane.

The number of rotatable insets depends on the size of the joint and on the power to be transmitted; ve (as assumed in the drawings) or seven in each row is found to be a particularly advantageous number.

I claim: l

1. A joint for the connection of shafts, in pary ticular in automotive vehicles, comprising a joint head onone shaft and a joint socket on the other shaft, an intermediate ring interposed between said head and socket bearing means for said ring, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the co-operating faces of said head, socket and ring, driving members movably located within said insets, a guide member adapted to positively rocksaid intermediate ring and being at both ends in movable engagement with the ends of said two shafts and being held between said ends for universal rotary movement in said bearing means of the intermediate ring, the centre point for the universal rotary movement of said guide member being situated in equal distance from the centre point of the joint system at any angular position of said two shafts.

2. A joint for the connection of shafts, in particular in automotive vehicles, comprising a joint head on one shaft and a joint socket on the other shaft, an intermediate ring interposed between said head and socket bearingA means for'sald ring, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the 3o-operating faces of said head, socket and ring, driving members movably located within said insets, a guide rod for moving said intermediate ring, the ends of said guide rod being movable in axial borings in the ends of said two shafts, and a spherical face provided on said guide rodbetween its ends and being in rotatable but not slidable engagement with said intermediate ring.

3. A joint for the connection of shafts, in particular in automotive vehicles, comprising a spherical joint head on one shaft and a spherical joint socket on the other shaft, an intermediate ring tted between said head and socket bearing means for said ring, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the co-operating faces of said head, socket and ring, driving members movably located within said insets, means for limiting the range of rotation of said insets, a guide rod for moving said intermediate ring, said guide rod being provided with spherical end portions adapted to rotate and slide in axial borings in the ends of said two shafts, and a spherical collar provided on said guide rod between its spherical end portions and being in rotatable but not slidable engagement in a spherical bearing provided in said intermediate ring.

4. A joint for the connection of shafts, in particular lin automotive vehicles, comprising a spherical joint head on one shaft and a spherical joint socket on the other shaft, an intermediate ring fitted between saidfhead and socket bearing means for said ring, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the co-operating faces of said head, socket and ring, driving means movably located in said insets and establishing cooperative movement betweenI co-acting insets, means for limiting the range of movement between said insets, a guide rod for moving said intermediate ring, said guide rod being provided with spherical end portions adapted to rotate and slide in axial borings in the ends of said two shafts, and a spherical collar provided on said guide rod be- 'tween its spherical end portions, and a ilpherical bearing formed upon said intermediate ring in which said spherical collar is held for universal rotary movement.

5. A joint for -the connection of shafts, in particular in automotive vehicles, comprising a spherical joint head on one shaft and a spherical joint socket on the other shaft, an intermediate ring fitted between said head and socket, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the cooperating faces of said head, socket and ring, slide-blocks guided in channels in opposing insets, a guide rod for moving said intermediate ring, said guide rod being provided with spherical ends adapted to rotate and slide-in axial borings in the ends of said two shafts, and a spherical collar` provided on said guide rod between its spherical ends, a cover-on one side of said intermediate ring and a plate removably secured to said cover, said cover and plate being apertured to form a spherical bearing'in which said spherical collar is held for universal rotary movement, said spherical bearing and collar being so positioned with respect to the centre point of the joint system that in operation of the joint the centre point of said spherical collar travels over an imaginary spherical surface passing approximately centrally between the inner and outer faces of said intermediate ring.

6. A joint for the connection of shafts, in particular in automotive vehicles, comprising a spherical joint head on one shaft and an annular joint socket connected to the other shaft, an intermediate ring interposed between said head and socket, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted inthe co-operating faces of said head, socket and ring, driving members movably located within said insets, said intermediate ring and annular jointl socket being each divided into two parts along planes running transversely to their axes, said parts being stepped at their abutting edges and secured together, and a guide rod for moving saidl intermediate ring, the ends of said guide rod'being movable inaxial borings in the ends of-said two shafts, and a spherical face provided on said guide rod and being in rotatable but not slidable engagement with said intermediate ring.

'7. A joint for the connection of shafts, in particular in automotive vehicles, comprising a spherical joint head on one shaft and an annular joint socket connected to the otherl shaft,'an intermediate ring fitted between said head and socket, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the co-operating faces of said head, socket and ring, driving members movably located within co-acting insets, said intermediate ring `and annular joint socket being each divided into two parts along planes running transversely to their axes, said parts being stepped at their abutting edges and secured together, a guide rodvwhich is provided with spherical ends adapted to rotate and slide in axial borings in the ends of said two shafts and with a spherical collar intermediate said spherical ends', a cover removably bolted to one side of said intermediate ring, and a plate removably secured to said cover, said cover and plate being apertured to form a spherical bearing for said spherical collar, the spherical bearing and collar being so positioned with respect to the centre point of the joint system that in operation of the joint the centre point of said spherical collar travels over an imaginary spherical surface passing approximately centrally between the inner and outer faces of said intermediate ring.

8. A joint for the connection of shafts, in particular in automotive vehicles, comprising a joint lhead on one shaft and a joint socket on the other shaft, an intermediate ring fitted between said head and socket, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the cri-operating faces of said head, socket and ring, the insets of the joint head being located in recesses provided in said joint head, and extending normally axially of the shaft connected to said head, means for operatively connecting said insets to said head, said insets being adapted to engage with correspondingly shaped cavities in the side walls of said recesses. driving members movably located' within coacting insets of said joint head, joint socket and intermediate ring, a guide rod having spherical ends engaging in axial borings in the ends of said two shafts and having an intermediate spherical collar in a spherical bearing in said intermediate ring,

9. A joint for the connection of shafts, in par.. ticular in automotive vehicles, comprising a joint head on one shaft and a joint socket on the other shaft, an intermediate ring fitted between said head and socket, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the co-operating faces of said head,l

socket and ring, an aperture in each of the circular insets in said joint socket, apertures of smaller diameter inv the joint socket,the lastmentioned apertures being aligned with said first-mentioned apertures, and a ball located within each -pair of said apertures in said socket and socket insets the diameter of the ball corresponding to that of the smaller apertures, driving members movably located within co-acting pairs of the several series of insets, a guide rod having spherical ends engaging in axial borings in the ends of said two shafts and having a spherical collar seated in a spherical bearing said intermediate ring.

10. A joint for the connection of shafts, in particular in automotive vehicles, comprising a joint head on one shaft and a joint socket on the other shaft, an intermediate ring fitted between said head and socket bearing means for said ring, a plurality of insets rotatably mounted in the oo-operating faces of said head, socket and ring,

ball driving means located in said insets establishing cooperative movement between co-acting insets, means for limiting the range of movement of said insets, a guide rod having spherical ends engaging in axial borings in the ends of said two shafts and having a spherical collar seated in a spherical bearing in saidintermediatering and being rotatable but not slidable therein.

' HANS HANFI. 

